Petroleum Base Fluids
Petroleum base oils are by far the most commonly used hydraulic fluid. Petroleum, a complex mixture of chiefly hydrocarbons, must be highly refined to produce a fluid with viscosity characteristics suitable for hydraulic
control systems. Such mineral, turbine, or light oils, as they are often called, have a long history of satisfactory performance as a working fluid. Nearly all petroleum suppliers oflTer a wide variety of hydrocarbon fluids, ranging from straight refined petroleum to high formulated fluids containing additives to inhibit rust and oxidation, reduce foaming, and increase viscosity index and lubricity. A wide range of viscosity and viscosity-temperature characteristics are available from numerous manufacturers and should be consulted for specific properties. Military Specification MIL-H-5606B is the standard military specification for petroleum base hydraulic fluids.
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